"As a coach you don't base your season on wins and losses. But that team went far beyond what we had hoped for. Plus, they were solid kids and solid citizens. They did it everywhere."

In a program that until two years ago was a perennial doormat in the Mid-Suburban League, a new challenge awaited Pearlman and company as football practice officially kicked off Wednesday morning.

With 11 returning starters, several in key positions, how will Prospect be prepared to defend its Class 7A title?

Whether they like it or not, future Prospect football teams will be compared to last year's team.

"First of all, this is a very good team coming back," Pearlman said. "I myself don't look at this upcoming season any different than any other one. The only pressure we focus on is the pressure to play our type of football.

"Last year was a great chapter in the history of Prospect football. But we've left that season where it belongs."

"It took about a month or two before it all sunk in," said senior defensive back and wide receiver Scott Sprague. "And then after that the off-season program started and we had to start concentrating on next year. It was hard to put it in the backs of our minds because it was so exciting. It's hard to try and forget something like that."

Even Pearlman admits it's fun to look back. What began as a team full of young but talented players turned into a roller-coaster ride week after week. In the regular season the Knights posted five shutouts and outscored their opponents on average by an almost 4-1 ratio.

In the playoffs Prospect rolled past Romeoville 34-12 in the opener and then squeaked by a big and physical Loyola squad 17-10. Next came a 21-12 win over MSL East rival Buffalo Grove before Bolingbrook in mid-November. Trailing 15-0 in that contest with seven minutes left in the first half, Prospect rallied to cut the lead to 15-14 at the half and then scored 27 unanswered points in the second to win 47-22 and earn the trip to Champaign.

"In both the Loyola and Bolingbrook games, the kids responded on so many different levels," Pearlman said. "It kind of symbolized this team--that they were the ultimate battlers. They played with so much courage."

The following week, Prospect posted a 17-14 victory over Edwardsville to finish 14-0 and win the school's first state title.

"Last year our motto was `Build a Tradition,' to not only build a winning tradition on the field but off as well," Sprague said. "This year our slogan is `Blue Collar.' To do everything all out and to try and be selfless. To put the others on the team ahead of you.

"We know it's going to be harder for us. We know teams will be gunning for us. For some it might make their season to beat Prospect. We just need to focus on making ourselves better and not worry about everyone else."

The biggest difference will come at two key skill positions, with the addition of quarterback Jared Dall (5-10, 175) and tailback Bryon Gattas (6-2, 200). Pearlman believes those additions could make the team as good or better than last year's squad.

"For several years Prospect was always at the bottom of the barrel," Pearlman said. "So this represents a pretty drastic change. And it presents new challenges inside and outside of the program. We just need to keep it in perspective.

"As for last year, we haven't talked a lot about it. But I'm confident that the 2002 team will leave its own legacy."